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Graduate Student Handbook 2019-2020
Texas A&M University Galveston Campus
www.tamug.edu/grad
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TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME: Aggies by the Sea ________________________________________________ 3
MISSION STATEMENTS ____________________________________________________ 4
TAMUG _______________________________________________________________________ 4 RGSO _________________________________________________________________________ 4
ACADEMIC LIFE __________________________________________________________ 5-7
Howdy and Email ________________________________________________________________ 5 Registration ____________________________________________________________________ 5 Billing _________________________________________________________________________ 5 OGAPS Policies/Forms ___________________________________________________________ 6 Study Abroad ___________________________________________________________________ 7 Grading ________________________________________________________________________ 7 Departmental Policies ____________________________________________________________ 7 Graduation _____________________________________________________________________ 7
EMPLOYMENT __________________________________________________________ 8-10
Assistantships __________________________________________________________________ 8 Tuition Waivers _________________________________________________________________ 8 GAT Responsibilities _____________________________________________________________ 9 Human Resources _______________________________________________________________ 9 HR Requirements for International Students __________________________________________ 10 Benefits ______________________________________________________________________ 10 Health Insurance _______________________________________________________________ 10
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS _______________________________________________ 11
International Student Services (ISS) ________________________________________________________ 11 Check-In _____________________________________________________________________ 11 Worker Certification _____________________________________________________________ 11
CONTACTS ____________________________________________________________ 12-13
TAMUG ______________________________________________________________________ 12 TAMU ________________________________________________________________________ 13
GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE PROCEDURAL ADVISING ________________________ 14
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WELCOME: AGGIES BY THE SEA
Welcome to Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG). This online handbook is a
resource for graduate students in residence at Galveston.
In addition to this guide, students are encouraged to visit the following online resource:
Texas A&M University (TAMU) Graduate Catalog. Other resources are listed or linked as
appropriate throughout this handbook and on our website.
Despite our efforts to provide as much information as possible in these publications, personal
inquiries are always welcome in our office. So, please feel free to come by the Research and
Graduate Studies Office, Suite 409 in the Main Academic Building (MAIN).
Welcome to Texas A&M University at Galveston. We’re glad that you’ve decided to be an
Aggie by the Sea.
Sincerely,
Nicole
Nicole Kinslow
Director
Graduate Studies
409-740-4937
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MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of Texas A&M University at Galveston Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) is a special-purpose institution of higher
education for undergraduate and graduate instruction in marine and maritime studies in
science, engineering and business and for research and public service related to the general
field of marine resources. The institution is under the management and control of the Board of
Regents of the Texas A&M University System, with degrees offered under the name and
authority of Texas A&M University at College Station.
The Mission of A&M Galveston Graduate Studies Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston supports student success and the
academic mission of the graduate community. We foster broad collaborations with graduate
studies stakeholders to expand knowledge, enhance skills, and champion personal and
professional development. We strive to continually create new opportunities for graduate
students to become global thinkers and their success is determined by their enduring
commitment and ownership to their educational experience.
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ACADEMIC LIFE
Howdy and Email The Howdy Portal is a web portal connecting students to university records and resources.
On Howdy, students pay tuition bills, register for courses, and view unofficial transcripts plus
much more. Please note that students need to activate their Net ID and password in order to
access Howdy. To activate your Net ID and password, please visit the Howdy page on the
Grad Studies website.
Every student is given an email.tamu.edu
account. To activate this email, please visit
here. To request an A&M Galveston
(tamug.edu) email address, please send us an
email at [email protected].
Registration Registration should be done with careful consideration of your options. It is best to consult
with your faculty advisor or the staff advisor. Students register online through the Howdy
Portal using your Net ID and password and click the “My Record” tab. Please note that on
Howdy, students can only enroll for courses at Galveston and College Station. For example,
College Station students can register for courses at TAMU or TAMUG on Howdy. The same
goes for Galveston students wanting to enroll for courses at TAMU or TAMUG. If you need
assistance with registering for a course on Howdy, please email [email protected] with
your UIN and course information.
Billing Students can view their tuition and fee bill on Howdy. Students are responsible for paying
their bill on time in order to avoid a late fee. To challenge a bill, please view the policies
within the university catalog.
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OGAPS Policies/Forms
The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) at Texas A&M University
handles processing documents for each critical step toward obtaining your Master’s or
doctoral degree. Please see below for important websites to visit at OGAPS.
OGAPS Current Student Webpage
This site explains policies governing
graduate education at TAMU and TAMUG.
Online Document Plan Submission System
(DPSS)
Every graduate student is required to submit
a degree plan online. This site provides
access for the online degree plan
submission system.
Steps to Fulfill a Master’s Degree
Learn more about the critical steps required
for all Master’s students.
Steps to Fulfill a Doctoral Degree
Learn more about the critical steps required
for all doctoral students.
Petition
At times, students need to change a course, committee member, or may need to take a
leave of absence. A petition allows a graduate student to make these requests. Students
cannot file a petition until a degree plan is filed and approved. Petitions are filed through
DPSS.
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Study Abroad Many of our graduate students participate through Study Abroad experiences through
courses, research trips, or conferences. When the student leaves the U.S., they are required
to register with Study Abroad. Although it is not required, it is recommended that you inform
the TAMUG Graduate Studies Office of your travel plans as well. International students
traveling outside the US are advised to contact International Student Services to ensure that
they have the proper, most updated documents to exit and re-enter the country.
Grading Please note that only an Instructor of Record may grade work conducted by a graduate
student. Graduate students in a Teaching Assistantship role cannot grade work conducted by
another graduate student.
Departmental Policies It is not uncommon for departments to have additional policies for graduate education. To
learn more about departmental policies, please contact your department.
Graduation Graduation is a big event that requires planning. For the semester of your anticipated
graduation date, please apply for graduation early and before the deadline. Critical dates for
graduation are posted on the Academic Calendar. For all graduate students, it is
recommended that you visit your Academic Advisor the semester before you anticipate
graduating in order make sure you are on track.
For students preparing a thesis or dissertation, it is recommended that you attend a Thesis
Workshop held by the Thesis Office a year before your anticipated graduation. Finally, it is
recommended that graduate students schedule a pre-submittal conference the semester
before or during graduation. This conference will save you time with the editing process.
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EMPLOYMENT Assistantships There are graduate assistantship positions available at TAMUG. Graduate students may be
employed as a Graduate Assistant-Teaching (GAT) in an academic department on the
Galveston campus. This employment position is handled through the individual academic
department and the Human Resources Office. Interested students should contact the
academic department for any position openings. First time GATs must go through training
provided by the TAMU Center for Teaching Excellence. In addition, graduate students may be
employed as either a Graduate Assistant-Research (GAR), where you would be working with
a faculty member in a lab setting or as a Graduate Assistant-Non- Teaching (GANT) where
you would be working in a discipline related non-teaching position. All three of these positions
are 50% effort positions (20 hours/week), benefits eligible and qualify for a non-resident
tuition waiver and graduate student tuition payment (doctoral students only) in accordance
with full-time registration requirements.
Tuition Waivers The University will continue efforts to improve the competitiveness of the graduate program
by paying the resident tuition of doctoral graduate assistants involved in teaching (GATs),
researching (GARs), and (GANTs) supporting teaching. An eligible graduate assistant does
not have to apply for this award; instead each will have the appropriate amount credited to
his/her fee statement, based on registration and information provided by the employing
department.
Out-of-State (non-Texas resident) graduate students employed as a graduate assistant and
registered fulltime qualify for the non-resident tuition waiver. This waiver will allow the
graduate student to pay in-state tuition rates.
The Graduate Studies Office files all waivers. For questions regarding tuition payments and
non-resident waivers for Graduate Assistants, contact our office at [email protected].
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GAT Responsibilities GATs may assist with distance education set-up, lecture, develop material, grade
undergraduate student work only, and facilitate labs.
Human Resources For the hiring process, you will interact with Human Resources (HR) as well as several
departments. Please make sure your hiring department here in Galveston notifies HR as
soon as possible. Hiring dates and times should be observed in order for the process to go
as smoothly as possible.
HR requires that every new hire complete a Criminal Background Check form. This form can
take a long time to process.
In order to get on payroll, students must attend an HR session during August or January or
schedule an appointment with HR. When you visit HR, please bring the following: photo
identification card, banking info for direct deposit, and your original social security card.
During this visit, please plan to complete new hire paperwork. If you do not, you will be:
removed from payroll, not eligible to work, and not get paid for the time worked until you
present the appropriate documentation. HR will accept a receipt from the Social Security
Administration until the card is received. Once you receive your new card in the mail, bring it
to HR so a copy can be made.
A new employee who does not have their original Social Security card, must go to the Social
Security Administration office in League City (2835 Gulf Freeway South; located between the
Petco and Kohl’s) and request a replacement card. You only have 3 days from the hire date
to provide proof of identification.
During your orientation with HR, you have to complete all mandatory HR training which
includes “Ethics”, “Creating a Discrimination Free Workplace”, and “Lab Safety and
HAZCOM” (where required). This training must be completed online within 30 days of hire.
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HR Requirements for International Students HR needs the following information for hiring: name, your hiring department, email, unexpired
passport, visa, I-20 (if you are an F-1), DS2019 (if you are a J-1), social security card
(*contact Graduate Studies if you do not have a SSN card before applying for a SSN card),
and I-94.
Benefits (based on % effort) Not all Graduate Assistants get benefits. If you are a benefits-eligible employee, you are
entitled to medical insurance benefits. Please go to the following link for information on
insurance premiums: https://tamu.myahpcare.com/.
Make sure to select your benefits via sso.tamus.edu
within 60 days of your start date to select the Graduate
Student Worker Insurance Plan to avoid the default A&M
Care Plan which you will pay $300+ per month.
Health Insurance In April of each year you will be informed by Human Resources of the cost of your summer
health insurance premiums that will be deducted from your June 1 paycheck. This
information is sent to you with the assumption that you are returning for the fall semester in
the same capacity (GAR, GAT, GANT). If you are not returning in the fall, please notify your
employing department and HR. Upon termination of your employment with TAMUG, you may
have the option to use COBRA coverage for your medical benefits.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International Student Services
The mission of International Student Services (ISS) is to facilitate an international student's
transition to life in the United States and at TAMU and TAMUG, promote interactions between
the US and international populations, and provide services necessary to meet the special
needs of international students.
The services necessary to accomplish the office mission are as diverse as the student
population itself. However, there are six general areas of services available:
Immigration Services and Advising Personal Advising Liaison for International Students Community and Campus Outreach Activities Special Programs for International Students Administration of Scholarships, Grants and Loan Programs exclusively for International
Students
For information specifically for international students attending TAMUG, please click here.
Check-In Most incoming international students are required to submit the “New F-1/J-1 Student Check-
In” program through Terra Dotta in order to have the ISS Check-In registration hold removed.
This can be done once the student is fully admitted AND once they have arrived in the United
States. Students who do not participate in Check-In will be unable to register or get on payroll
(if on an assistantship). Also, students must complete an online orientation through ISS prior
to enrolling for their first semester.
Worker Certification
All incoming international students on assistantships must work with their hiring department to
complete worker certification, which involves the department verifying all standard documents
needed to enter the country (i.e. I-20, DS2019, I-94, etc.). Once worker certification is
complete, the department will notify HR who will proceed with the hiring process.
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CONTACTS A&M Galveston
Marine Biology Dr. Anna Armitage,
Graduate Advisor
M.S. and Ph.D., Marine Biology
Telephone: 409-740-4842
Email: [email protected]
Marine Sciences Dr. Wesley Highfield,
Graduate Advisor
Master of Marine Resource
Management
Telephone: 409-740-4726
Email: [email protected]
Maritime Administration Dr. Joan Mileski,
Department Head
Master of Maritime
Administration and Logistics
Telephone: 409-740-4978
Email: [email protected]
Research & Graduate Studies Dr. Antonietta Quigg, Senior Associate Vice
President for Research & Graduate Studies
Telephone: 409-740-4990
Email: [email protected]
Nicole Kinslow, Director for Graduate Studies
Telephone: 409-740-4937
Email: [email protected]
Holly Richards, Academic Advisor IV
Telephone: 409-740-4957
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Diego Gil Agudelo, Director for Research
Operations
Telephone: 409-740-4941
Email: [email protected]
Patty Gonzales, Business Coordinator III
Telephone: 409-740-4748
Email: [email protected]
Therese Skrzyniarz, Administrative Coordinator
Telephone: 409-740-4479
Email: [email protected]
Human Resources Ms. Tina Pennington, HR Rep
Telephone: 409-740-4534
E-Mail: [email protected]
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CONTACTS TAMU
Oceanography Samantha Thorpe, Academic
Advisor III
Telephone: 979-845-5346
Email: [email protected]
Thesis Office 979-845-3631
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
http://ogaps.tamu.edu
Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Lindsay Hutchins, Academic
Advisor III
Telephone: 979-845-5704
E-Mail: [email protected]
International Student Services Samantha Clement, Sr. Int’l Student Advisor
Telephone: 979-845-1824
E-Mail: [email protected]
Danny Roe, TAMUG Int’l Liaison
Telephone: 409-740-4836
Email: [email protected]
Office of Graduate and Professional Studies 979-845-3631
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://ogaps.tamu.edu
Dr. Karen Butler-Purry, Associate Provost for
Graduate and Professional Studies
E-Mail: [email protected]
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Graduate Studies Office Procedural Advising
INCOMING STUDENTS All incoming students will receive information concerning their admission to Texas
A&M University at Galveston and their orientation, handbook, and any registration procedures.
All incoming students will be sent informational videos related to preparation of their first semester at Texas A&M University at Galveston.
All incoming students will be required to attend the New Graduate Student Orientation. All incoming students who will serve as Teaching Assistants will be required to attend
the Teaching Assistantship Training hosted by the Graduate Studies Office and the TAMU Center for Teaching Excellence.
All incoming students will be required to attend a mandatory First Semester Advising Meeting with a Graduate Studies office staff member.
All incoming students will be briefed on the specific requirements of their degree and the expected timeline for completion of milestones within the program (degree plan, proposal, prelims, defense, etc.).
CURRENT STUDENTS
Current students will have reminders sent to them concerning milestones within their degree program (degree plan, proposal, prelims, defense, etc.).
All current students must have a degree plan on file with the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies by the end of their second semester of study. Failure to do so will result in registration holds being placed on your student account.
Students must follow the calendars and timelines published by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
GRADUATING STUDENTS
All graduating students will be required to attend a mandatory Graduation Advising
Meeting with a Graduate Studies office staff member. All graduating students will be briefed on the specific requirements of their degree and
the expected timeline for completion of milestones within the program (degree plan, proposal, prelims, defense, etc.) as related to graduation.
Student records will be checked for completion by Graduate Studies Office staff. Petitions, corrections, or other forms required for graduation will be overseen by the Graduate Studies Office.
Graduating students must meet deadlines published by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies to be eligible to receive their diploma. Failure to do so may delay graduation.
